Arkansas lies squarely within the turfgrass transition zone, where the climate is often too hot for cool-season grasses and too cold for warm-season varieties to consistently thrive. Success in establishing a new lawn depends on matching the grass type to the correct planting season and ensuring optimal soil conditions. Determining the best time to sow seed requires understanding these two major grass categories and paying close attention to soil temperature, which is the primary factor dictating germination.
Selecting the Right Grass for Arkansas’s Climate
The state’s position in the transition zone means homeowners must choose between two main grass types, each with its own growing calendar. Cool-season grasses flourish during the mild weather of spring and fall but may struggle or enter dormancy during the intense heat of Arkansas summers. These varieties, such as Tall Fescue and Kentucky Bluegrass, are a better fit for the cooler, northern half of the state and maintain color during the winter months.
Warm-season grasses thrive in the heat, exhibiting peak growth during the summer but turning brown as they go dormant during the winter. These varieties are better suited for central and southern Arkansas where summer temperatures are sustained. Popular warm-season choices include Bermuda, Zoysia, and Centipede grass.
Optimal Planting Window for Cool-Season Varieties
The most favorable time to plant cool-season grasses, such as Tall Fescue, is in the late summer or early fall, typically from mid-August through mid-October. This period offers the combination of warm soil and cooling air temperatures, which encourages rapid germination and deep root development. The soil temperature should be between 50°F and 65°F for the best results.
Planting in the fall allows the young grass plants ample time to establish a strong, deep root system before the first hard freeze arrives. These well-established roots increase the grass’s chances of surviving the subsequent summer’s high temperatures and drought conditions.
While early spring (around March) is a secondary planting option, it is less ideal because the emerging seedlings face the immediate stress of the summer heat shortly after germination. The drawback of spring planting is that the new grass must survive a full summer before its root system has fully matured.
Optimal Planting Window for Warm-Season Varieties
Warm-season grasses like Bermuda and Zoysia require high soil temperatures to germinate successfully, making late spring and early summer their best planting window. In Arkansas, this means planting from mid-April through June. The target soil temperature range is between 65°F and 75°F.
Planting during this window ensures the seed benefits from the summer’s extended warmth, which accelerates the metabolic processes necessary for establishment. Sowing seed too early, when the soil is still cool, leads to slow germination, leaving the seed vulnerable to rot and increasing the likelihood of weeds taking hold before the grass emerges.
Seeding too late in the summer is risky, as the young plants need at least 90 days of active growth to store energy before the onset of fall dormancy and the first frost.
Essential Soil Preparation and Post-Seeding Care
Regardless of the season or grass type selected, proper soil preparation is necessary for successful seeding. A professional soil test provides data on soil pH and nutrient levels, allowing for targeted amendments to ensure the soil is hospitable for new growth. Before spreading seed, the area should be cleared of debris, and the soil aerated to reduce compaction and allow water and nutrients to penetrate the root zone.
A light tilling or raking of the top inch of soil helps create a favorable seedbed by providing loose material for the seed to settle into and make contact with. Immediately following seeding, a starter fertilizer high in phosphorus should be applied to support rapid root development in the young seedlings.
The post-seeding watering regimen is important for germination, requiring frequent, light applications to keep the top inch of soil continuously moist. Once the new grass reaches a height of three to four inches, the watering schedule can be gradually shifted to deeper, less frequent soakings to encourage the roots to grow downward.
Initial mowing should be done with a sharp blade set to a high height to avoid stressing the fragile new plants. Any weed management during the establishment phase must be done carefully, using only pre-emergent herbicides labeled as safe for new grass seedlings.